Real Life RAmblings
đș When Gratitude Feels Hard â Honoring the âBoth/Andâ of Grief and Grace
By: Christine L Panka Published on: 09/11/2025New Blog PFresh from her journey to Mexico City for DĂa de los Muertos, Life After Loss Coach Christine Panka shares how the Day of the Dead reframed her understanding of gratitude and grief. As she and her group painted their faces as sugar skulls, surrounded by marigolds, music, and remembrance, she witnessed the both/and of healing â joy woven with sorrow, celebration intertwined with memory. In this heartfelt reflection, Christine reminds readers that gratitude doesnât erase grief; it expands the heart to hold it tenderly. For those ready to deepen this practice of grace and gratitude, she invites readers to join the Pathfinder or Inner Circle memberships inside The Midlife Surprise Society.ost Description
đŸ The Quiet Gift of Noticing: Finding Gratitude in Small Moments
By: Christine L Panka Published on: 04/11/2025Gratitude after loss doesnât always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes, it begins in the quiet act of noticing â the warmth of a coffee mug, the glimmer of frost, or the simple rhythm of breath. In this gentle reflection, Life After Loss Coach Christine Panka shares how small moments of awareness can become the first steps toward healing. Rather than forcing gratitude, she invites readers to let it unfold naturally, one noticing at a time. Discover how presence itself can become a pathway back to peace â and how the Pathfinder and Inner Circle memberships within The Midlife Surprise Society can support your ongoing journey toward gratitude and growth.
The Masks That Donât Fit
By: Christine L Panka Published on: 31/10/2025Halloween may be about wearing masks for fun, but in real life, many of us wear masks all year longâthe âIâm fineâ smile, the caretaker role, the strong one persona. In The Masks That Donât Fit, coach and writer Christine Panka explores how midlife often reveals the masks weâve outgrown and the wisdom waiting beneath them. Through relatable storytelling and gentle coaching insight, she invites readers to reflect on the roles theyâve played for safety or acceptanceâand what it might feel like to finally lay them down. With a journaling prompt and compassionate perspective, this piece reminds midlife women that authenticity is the truest form of freedom. Ideal for those navigating life after loss, major transitions, or the desire to rediscover their real selves. Learn how to harvest the wisdom your masks have given you and begin living more freely, unmasked and unafraid.
Carrying Wisdom Forward
By: Christine L Panka Published on: 26/10/2025Autumn teaches us that wisdom isnât meant to be hoardedâitâs meant to be carried forward. In this thoughtful blog post, Christine Panka reflects on how the lessons we learn in grief, loss, and midlife transitions arenât just souvenirs from the past; theyâre tools that guide us into the future. From patience and resilience to boundaries and compassion, the wisdom we carry helps us live more fully, protect our peace, and even inspire others along the way. With a coaching lens, Christine reminds readers that carrying wisdom forward doesnât require having everything figured outâit simply means walking into the next season with what youâve gathered so far. A reflection prompt helps you name the wisdom youâre ready to bring with you. Encouraging and empowering, this post is ideal for midlife women looking to turn hard-earned lessons into a legacy of strength and courage.
